Cheers and thanks to Rolo42 for making this original guide for everyone!

-SA

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This guide contains soup-to-nuts step-by-step procedures for rooting and/or flashing your Verizon Samsung Galaxy SIII (SCH-I535). If you follow these instructions precisely, everything should work fine. If it doesn't, report precisely what you did and precisely what the outcome was as well as any other relevant information--help us help you.

The usual disclaimer: You are responsible for your actions and the consequences.

Firstand foremost, to get your phone to talk to your PC, you will need the Samsung drivers for Windows:

There are two methods to root your phone. The first method involves no flashing and uses Android Debugging Bridge (ADB) to root and install the requisite superuser app. This method does not require clearing caches or resetting and it leaves everything intact.
Method 1 (no flash)

1. Ensure aforementioned Samsung USB drivers are working properly
2. Download Noxious Ninja's DebugFS root tool from here: Link
3a. If you do not have ADB installed (from Android or mini SDK--if you don't know what this is, you haven't installed it; cf. http://androidforums.com/faqs/443072-adb-guide-updated-12-05-2011-a.html), extract DebugFS root tool into its own folder (i.e. "C:\root"); I like 7-zip archive program
3b. If you have already installed ADB or the Android SDK, extract DebugFS root tool into your ADB folder but do not replace any files!
4. Open Windows Explorer, browse to your newly extracted DebugFS folder (i.e. "C:\root")
5. Double-click on "RootDebugfs.bat" and follow the directions
6. After the batch file completes, open the Superuser app; set your options per your preference. You now have root access.

1. Ensure aforementioned Samsung USB drivers are working properly
2. If you do not have a torrent client installed, download/install one now; I like Tixati
3. Download VRALG1 full firmware from this post: Link
4. Double-click the .torrent file you downloaded in step 3; your torrent client should search/download the ROM (.tar.md5 file)
5. Unplug the phone from the PC and power it off
6. Download, install and run Odin: Link
7. Put the phone in download mode: press and hold volume down, home, and power buttons until the screen displays a prompt
8. Press volume up to continue
9. In Odin, verify the "ID:COM" section shows a COM port (the first rectangle)
10. It doesn't because I forgot to tell you to plug in the phone
11. Plug the phone into the PC
12. Now verify the "ID:COM" section shows a COM port connected
13. Click "PDA" and select the VRALG1 firmware (.tar.md5 file)
14. After Odin verifies MD5 hash, press Start button; if MD5 check failed, delete the file, re-download it and try again. You are now rooted.
15. Optional: Install EZ Recovery from the play store. Flash a custom recovery of your choice (I like TWRP2.2)
16. Reboot into recovery (if you didn't install EZ recovery or don't have an app to reboot into recovery, power off; then hold volume up, home, and power keys to boot into recovery)
17. Clear cache and Dalvik cache.
18. Reboot & enjoy! NOTE: The first boot after any wipe takes a long time; be patient.

Unlocking the Bootloader

Unlocking the bootloader does three things:
- Enables you to flash custom kernels without kexec workarounds
- Clears the "Custom" unlocked padlock notification on boot
- Decreases boot time since it no longer performs security checks
NOTE: This is not required for either rooting or flashing a kexec kernel/ROM or the aforementioned VRALG1 ROM in Method 2.

1. If you do not have root access, root your phone per above procedure
2. Install EZ-Unlock app from the Playstore: Link
3. Run the app, press the Unlock button
4. Reboot to ensure all is well!

- Built off Stock ROM (USB Kies and everything else works from stock)
- Jelly Bean Boot Animations
- Google Now
- Speed tweaks for WiFi
- Power saving features
- Graphic acceleration for your photos/videos
- Deodexed/Zipaligned
- SuperSU
- More coming soon! (Let me know what you really want!)
- I left all bloatware on for now (slowly removing one by one, please tell me which one you think absolutely isn&#8217;t needed)

*Based Off A System Dump Provided to me by invisiblek of the latest OTA
*100% Deodexed including SMS app and Visual Voicemail. Access you SMS app from the lockscreen again.
*Rooted with latest Superuser.apk and SU Binary. Also Latest busybox installed.
*100% Zipaligned
*Only thing removed is the guide videos as that saved 80MB and I doubt anybody even knows they exist.

-Ziggy / Mr.X kernel coming soon!!-ICS 4.0.4 - Latest I535VRALG1 Base-Fully Deodexed, Zipaligned, Busybox, Superuser-Debloated-Team Synergy's custom init.d scripts for insane performance-Blocked Samsung&#8217;s "root checker" service (We killed it so well that Device Status shows "Not -available" rather than "Modified")-EXT4 performance tweaks for moar speed-Be gone ongoing WiFi connect notification. Nobody likes you. (Won't take effect until after first reboot)-15 notifcation toggles-4-in-1 reboot menu-Jelly Bean Animations-Fully working Google Now with Jelly Bean voice search and offline dictation-4x5 Launcher with up to 9 homescreens-Sony Bravia Engine-Hold volume to skip tracks when screen is off-WiFi Tether working right out of the box. Just tap and go. (Note: This refers to the app named -WiFi Tether, not Mobile Hotspot as the latter is a subscription VZW service)-Customized mounting scripts (see Q&A)-I9300 boot animations with disabled sound-4G and WiFi speed tweaks-Verizon OTAs blocked-Synergized build.prop-Unlocked settings for camera, browser, and Find my mobile-Exchange policy disabled (your IT policy may prohibit this, if so flash this in recovery to get back to stock)-Fully integrated search (The newer VZW GS3 base removes this thanks to yet another lawsuit from Apple, so we retained the old search)-Ability to set WiFi transmit power (see Q&A)-Tons more tweaks and enhancements

Author(s): Invisiblek Home Thread: [Rom][Unofficial] JellyBean (CM10) VZW (Updated Nightlies) - xda-developers
ROM Status: Semi Nightly Builds
About: Based on CM10 but incorporates the latest fixes/mods/features/patches/etc that may not have been approved for release in the official CyanogenMod releases. Invisiblek has abandoned nightly builds since CM10 has gone official, but from time to time if a major improvement is made, but not yet approved for official release he will create a build

Kernels
The kernel is low-level software that controls the communication between the operating system and hardware; custom kernels can improve performance.

The CPU comes clocked at normal Samsung specs of 384MHZ low and 1.5GHZ high. You will need an application like System Tuner or Set CPU to overlcock it. This can also be modified by advanced users in the init.rc but is not recommended or supported. See first two blocks of init.rc for details.

GPU Overclocked at 300/500 MHZ

Under-volted just a few milli-volts to help save battery.

There are no fancy governors or other such things. Its a modified stock kernel, plain and simple.

This kernel should be compatible with any VRAGL1 based ROM such as (of course) CleanROM and Nosympathy's stock rooted base. Good chance it will work well with Team Synergy's ROM too but I have not tested that ROM but its a VRALG1 Based ROM.

If your ROM has non Samsung Boot Animation you will more than likely loose it! This WILL be the case for Synergy ROM!

This kernel will NOT work with any AOSP, AOKP, CM9, CM10, etc based ROMS! If the ROM is not a based on official Verizon VRAGL1 ROM then dont flash this kernel!

I like it for completely wiping (I mean the Sodom and Gomorrah wipe: formatting everything) and then flashing w/Odin.

I'm glad someone posted it because I didn't have a stock G1 ROM (I don't count NoSympathy's since it triggers the "Custom" boot screen...odd that). I don't know if its hosted anywhere other than torrent (I'll keep seeding it until it is).

I like it for completely wiping (I mean the Sodom and Gomorrah wipe: formatting everything) and then flashing w/Odin.

I'm glad someone posted it because I didn't have a stock G1 ROM (I don't count NoSympathy's since it triggers the "Custom" boot screen...odd that). I don't know if its hosted anywhere other than torrent (I'll keep seeding it until it is).

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i think the Custom boot screen is kinda wonky in and of itself...root66 never tripped it for me...except for once i rebooted the phone for something or another and it tripped it...

i didn't know that NoSymp's tripped it as well...ive been running Synergy for a little over a day now and that trips it (as expected)

also...as i suggestion...i would also include CWM in your guide...since it really goes hand in hand with root...personally i suggest for EVERYONE i speak to to use EZ Recovery and always flash CWM 6.0.1.0...

i know there are other options out there (esp Team Win) but i think with Kexec looking more and more like its going to be THE way to seriously mod our phones i personally feel there should be a consensus on the advice being given out...and CWM 6.0.1.0 is the kexec/kernel/auto-flash friendly option

I will expand the guide but I wanted to keep it basic and complete so anyone--especially those who've never done this before--can just follow it and be rooted. (and to cut down on the recurring common questions)

I did notice that the "Custom" screen does not trigger on the next boot but on the second subsequent boot, implying that the trigger occurs sometime after loading and not during bootstrap.

Synergy never triggered "Custom" for me but NoSympathy's did (but Synergy is based off of it!)

Installing the "blueui" using metamorph app (it changes the stock notification toggles to ICS blue) did trigger it on the stock rooted ROM. AFAIK, it just modifies System.apk--but Synergy has an entirely different set of notification toggles (and I assume System.apk).

It makes me wonder if something is indeed broken or not following syntax properly which triggers "Custom".

I am almost done with the questions. I finished steps 1-12 (Method 2), but here is where I still need some help. (SEE RED)

13. Optional: Install EZ Recovery from the play store. Flash a custom recovery of your choice (I like TWRP2.2)
(Where do I find TWRP2.2?)
(What is a recovery?)
14. Reboot into recovery (if you didn't install EZ recovery or don't have an app to reboot into recovery, power off; then hold volume up, home, and power keys to boot into recovery) 15. Clear cache and Dalvik cache. Enjoy! (the options I have are: Wipe date/factory reset or "wipe cache partition"

I also installed CWM as suggested by Metfanant&#8230;what next?

At what point should all apps/pictures/everything be backed up and how?

That is a part of the ROM you can boot into to perform low-level functions such as clear cache, format, factory reset, create/restore NANDroid backups. Think of it like booting into Windows Recovery Disc.

I think I have it now....the main concern I have for my sons phone is loosing all the apps/texts/pictures he has on there. He basically wants to keep all of that, just root to get rid of the Verizon apps. I thought that Titanium backup was for that.

I just want to see what the preferred recovery is for loading this one?

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IMO the preferred recovery for our phones is CWM 6.0.1.0 because it supports everything you can possibly want to do with our phones including Kexec Kernels...so IMO using anything else just adds one more potential step to the process if you eventually want to start messing with Kexec...